Writing instrument



Aug. 6, 1940. E s. GARVEY WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed March 25, 1940 INVENTOR. E. S. GARVEY .mm

ATTORNEY.

FIGJ.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED sr'rss TENT ()FFECE 2,210,662 WRITING INSTRUMENT Edward S. Garvey, Clayton, M0.

"having a writing tip which receives fluid discharged from a reservoir, the tip or the reservoir being tiltable to actuate a valve which controls the delivery'of writing fluid to the tip. The parts are so arranged that the writing pressure exerted on the tip will tilt the valve and thereby regulate the flow of fluid to the tip. This enables the user to follow his natural inclination by holding the instrument .at the most convenient angle and pressing, lightly to make light lines, and using more force for heavy lines. By varying the flow in accordance with the pressure, the desired amount of writing fluid is delivered, and in the absence of. such pressure, the valve willoccupy its closed position.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved device of this kind wherein the writing tip is made of yieldable absorbent material screwed into a tiltable holder, so as to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the tip. The flexible tip can be thus adjusted to suit the user, and also to compensate for wear-to which the tip is subjected in service. To obtain this adjustment, the flexible tip must be turned independently of the tip holder, and since the tip holder must be comparatively loose and free to tilt in different directions, one of the problems appeared in the production of a commercially desirable device wherein the tiltable holder would not be free to turn in response to the rotary movements of-the tip. The present invention provides all of the desired conditions and does not require the use of a large or cumbersome tip holder to be forcibly, held by the operator in making the adjustment.

: A further object is to simplify the details of a writing instrument having an adjustable tip carried by a tiltable valve, and at the same time generally improve the conditions involved in assembling and using the device.

Another object is to prevent accidental flow of drops of ink, or other writing fluid, from the valve to the outer side face of the instrument.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and shown in the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications within the scope of the'claims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a writing instrument embodying'the features of this invention.-

1940, Serial No. 325,736

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section showing details at the lower portion of the instrument.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the device as shown in Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, with the spring omitted to more clearly show details of the interlocking members which prevent rotary movement of the tiltable valve.

To illustrate one form of the invention, I have shown a reservoir 5 for the writing fluid serving as a handle for the writing instrument, and a tubular valve housing fi'forming a closure for the bottom of the reservoir. Thevalve housing is provided with a threaded extension I screwed into the reservoir and a flange 8 with a gasket 9 seated against the lower edge of the reservoir.

A seat I0 is formed in the lower portion of the reservoir to receive a valve H. A spring I2 is interposed between said valve and a spring seat [3 to yieldingly force the valve onto its seat 10. The tubular valve housing Bis open at the top and threaded internally to receive screw threads on the spring seat I3, as shown in Fig. 2, said spring seat being hollow to provide free communication between the reservoir 5 and the interior of the valve housing.

Attention is now directed to a tubular tip holder integrally united with and extending from thevalve ll, said tip holder including a tubular member [4 extending from the top of the valve and an elongated tubular member k5 extending downwardly from the bottom of the valve. This tip holder is provided with an internal screw thread, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive a writing tip l6 made of yieldable material, preferably tough fibrous absorbent material, such as felt, in the form of an elongated cylindrical rod. This yieldable tip is forced into the internal screw thread of the tubular tip holder, and a corresponding screw thread is thus formed in the yielding material. It is to be understood that the screw thread in the yieldable tip can be readily formedby merely screwing the plain unthreaded tip into the threaded tip holder.

, The upper end portion of the writing tip l6 1 holder.

sults, and a similar adjustment is made to compensate for the wear due to abrasion on the bottom face of the tip.

It will be observed that the valve II is tiltable in different directions to control or regulate the discharge of writing fluid from the reservoir, and that the tubular tip holder is united with the tiltable valve. When the device is in service, the reservoir 5 is held at the angle most convenient for the user, and the writing pressure transmitted from the reservoir to the tip I6 tilts the tip relative to the reservoir. The tip holder and the spring pressed valve II are then tilted to open the valve, as suggested by dotted lines at the lower portion of Fig. 2. The rate of flow from the reservoir will depend upon the extent to which the valve is opened, and this in turn depends upon the pressure applied to the tip. The user will naturally use more force for light lines than for heavy lines, and the flow of writing fluid will automatically conform to this natural inclination.

The valve I I and its tubular tip holder are universally tiltable in all directions, so it is not necessary to hold the instrument in any particular position. The tilting movements may be limited by a tubular discharge member I! extending downwardly from the valve seat I0 and surrounding the tubular member I5 of the tip The outer face of this tubular member I5 lies adjacent to the inner face of the discharge member IT, so the tilting movements are relatively slight, and the writing fluid is discharged through the restricted space between said'inner and outer faces. The lower portion of the tubular'member I5 is preferably slotted, as shown at I8, to form passageways wherein the writing fluid spreads on the absorbent tip I 6 as it flows toward the bottom of said tip.

Under unusual conditions, excess writing fluid may he accidentally released at the valve I I, and relatively large drops of the writing fluid may then fiow downwardly on the inner face of the tubular discharge member 17. Therefore, the bottom face of said discharge member I1 is provided with. an annular recess I9 to receive such excess fluid. Experience has shown that a drop of the fluid will tend to spread out in this recess I9, instead of passing to the outer side face of the instrument where the presence of such fluid would be more objectionable.

However, my actual experience in the manufacture, use and sale of instruments of this kind, wherein a yieldable absorbent tip is screwed into an internally threaded tiltable tip holder, clearly showed the existence of a very perplexing and unexpected problem. It is apparent that the writing tip I6 will move longitudinally on the screw thread when said tip is turned independently of the threaded holder I5, and one would naturally use pliers, or the like, to grasp said holder I5 while turning the writing tip I6. In actual practice, I found that suchgripping tools are likely to mutilate the threaded tip holder l5, and that a desirable commercial design does not provide space for the use of an ordinary gripping tool. In trying to solve this old problem, it was necessary to maintain various conditions essential to accuracy in the delivery of writing fluid to the tip, while avoiding complex or cumbersome attachments, and at the same time prevent or limit rotary movement of the tiltable elements inresponse to forcible rotary movements of the tip. I

Briefly stated, the present invention includes a tiltable abutment carried by and tiltable with the united valve and tip holder, the details being so arranged that the tiltable abutment will prevent, or limit, rotary movement of the tip holder when the reservoir 5 is grasped in one hand while the tip I 6 is grasped and turned with the other hand. To illustrate this feature, I have shown abutments 20 carried by and tiltable with the united valve and tip holder. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, these abutments 20 may be formed by the projecting corners of a square member integral with the valve II, and the internally threaded portion of the valve housing 6 may be grooved longitudinally as shown at 2| to receive the projecting abutments. In assembling the device, the valve I I and all of the other tiltable elements can be very readily inserted through the open upper end of the tubular valve housing 6, and the projecting abutments 20 will then move downwardly in the grooves 2| until the valve II engages its seat II]. There can be no accidental error in assembling the cooperating abutments. It will be observed that each groove 2| (Fig. 4) provides a pair of fixed abutments at opposite sides of one of the projecting abutments 20. These abutments 26 are located at diametrically opposite points, and they are loosely arranged in the grooves 2|, where they are free to tilt with the valve and tip holder, without in any way interfering with the universally tiltable movements of the united valve and tip holder.

The lower end of the tiltable writing tip I6 is remote from the valve, but the tiltable abutmentsv 20 are located relatively close to the valve to provide for a relatively slight tilting movement at the abutments. More specifically stated, the tiltable abutments may be located within the valve housing at points above and adjacent. to the valve seat, where they will not in any way interfere with the operation of the device, and where they are concealed and protected against accidental mutilation.

To insert a new tip, or while making the more or less frequent adjustments of a writing tip already in the instrument, it is only necessary to grasp the reservoir 5 with one hand while forcibly turning the flexible tip I6 in its threaded holder. The reservoir can be very conveniently and naturally held to positively prevent rotation of the valve housing, and the tiltable abutments 20 will then prevent rotation of the tiltable valve and tip holder while the tip is forcibly rotated in its tiltable holder.

I claim:

1. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, a valve tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, a tiltable tip holder united with and extending from said tiltable valve,'said tiltable tip holder having an internal screw thread, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material screwed into said internal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on said screw thread in response to rotary movements of the tip independently of said tip holder, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder, said means including a tiltable abutment carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder, and a fixed abutment cooperating with said tiltable abutment.

. 2. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, a valve housing at the lower end of said reservoir, a valve seatedin said valve housing, said valve being tiltable in different 'directions to control the discharge-of fluid from saidreservo'ir, a tiltable tip holder unitedwith and extending downwardly from said tiltable valve; said tiltable tip holder having an internal 1 screw thread, a writing tip made of yieldable with said united valve and tip holder, and a pair of fixed abutments at opposite sides of said tiltable abutment.

3: A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, said reservoir forming a handle for the instrument, a valve tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of absorbent material forced into said internal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on said screw thread in response to rotary movements of the tip independently of said reservoir, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder relative to said reservoir, said means including a tiltable abutment carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder, and a fixed abutment-cooperating with said tiltable abutment, the lower end of said writing tip being removed from said valve, and said tiltable abutment being adjacent to said valve to provide for a relatively slight tilting movement at said abutment.

4. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, a valve housing extending downwardly from said reservoir, a valve seated in said valve housing, said valve .being tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, a tiltable tip holder united with and extending downwardly from said tiltable valve, an abutment surrounding said tip holder to limit the tilting movements of said Valve, said tiltable tip holder having an internal screw thread, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material forced into said internal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on said screw thread in response to rotary movements of the tip independently of said tip holder, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder, said means including an abutment carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder, the last mentioned abutment being located above and adjacent to the valve seat, and the first mentioned abutment being below said valve seat.

5. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, said reservoir forming a handle for the instrument, a valve tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, a tiltable tip holder united with and extending from said tiltable valve, said tiltable tip holder having an internal screw thread, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material screwed into said internal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on said screw thread in response to rotary movements of the tip independently of said reservoir, and a series of abutments to limit the rotary movements of said tip holder, said series of abutments including a pair of abut-.

ments at opposite sides of an interposed abutment; one of said. abutments being carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder, and said abutments being arranged to prevent rotation of tiltable valve and tip holder when said writing tip is forcibly turned independently of said reservoir.

6. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, a valve housing at the lower end of said reservoir, a, valve seated in said valve housing, said valve being tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, a tiltable tip holder united with and extending downwardly from said tiltable valve, said tiltable tip holder having an internal screw thread, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material forced into said internal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinallyon said screw thread in response to rotary movements of the tip independently of said tip holder, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder, said means includ ing a series of abutments carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder, said tiltable abutments being located within said valve housing at points above the valve seat, and the inner face of said valve housing being recessed to receive said abutments.

7. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, a tubular valve housing extending from the lower end of said reservoir, said valve housing having an internal screw thread and an internal valve seat lower than said internal thread, a valve seated on said valve seat,

' a spring seat adjustably screwed into said internal screw thread, a spring interposed between said valve and spring seat, a tubular tip holder united with and extending downwardly from said valve, said tubular tip holder and valve being tiltable in diiferent directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, and said tubular tip holder being provided with an internal screw thread, said valve housing having a discharge opening formed below the valve and surrounding said tubular tip holder, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material forced into the internal thread of said tip holder and passing through said valve, the upper end of said writing tipbeing exposed to the fluid in said valve housing and the lower portion of said tip being extended from the lower end of said tip holder, said writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on the internal thread of the tiltable tip holder inresponse to rotary movement of the tip independently of said tip holder, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder, said means including a tiltable abutment carried by and tiltable with said united valve and tip holder.

8. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the writing fluid, said reservoir forming a handle for the instrument, a tubular valve housing extending from the'lower end of said reservoir, said valve housing having an internal screw thread and an internal valve seat lower than said internal thread, a valve seated on. said valve seat, a hollow spring seat adjustably screwed into said internal screw thread, a spring interposed between said valve and spring seat, a tubular tip holder united with and extending from the top and bottom of said valve, said tubular tip holder and: valve being tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fiuid from said reservoir, and. said tubular tip holder being provided with an internal screw thread, said valve housing having a discharge opening formed below the valve and surrounding said tip holder to limit the tilting movements of the valve, a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material forced into the internal thread of said tip holder and passing through said valve, the upper portion of said writing tip being located Within said valve housing and the lower portion of said tip being extended from the lower end of said tip holder, said-writing tip being adjustable longitudinally on'the internal thread of the tiltable tip holder in response to rotary movements or" the tip independently of said tip holder, and means for limiting the rotary movements of said tip holder, said means including an approximately square abutment member united with and located immediately above said tiltable valve so as to lie within said valve housing, said abutment member having projecting corner abutments tiltably interlocked with valve housing, the internally threaded portion of said valve housing being grooved longitudinally to receive said projecting abutments, and the upper end of said valve housing being open to permit insertion of the valve and tip holder into the valve housing.

9. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the Writing fluid, a valve housing at the lower end of said reservoir, a valve seated in said valve housing, said valve being movable to control the discharge of fluidfrom said reservoir, a tip holder united with and extending downwardly from said valve, said valve housing having a tubular discharge member surrounding and adjacent to said tip holder to provide for delivery of fluid to said tip holder, and a writing tip made of yieldab le absorbent material carried by and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, the bottom face of said tubular discharge member being recessed to receive excess Writing fluid from the inner face of said tubular member.

10. A writing instrument comprising a reservoir for the Writing fluid, a valve housing at the lower end of said reservoir, a valve seated in said reservoir, said valve being tiltable in different directions to control the discharge of fluid from said reservoir, a tiltable tip holder united withand extending downwardly from said tiltable valve, a tubular discharge member surrounding said tip holder to limit the tilting movements of said valve, said tiltable tip holder having an internal screw thread, and a writing tip made of yieldable absorbent material forced into said in ternal thread and projecting from the lower end of said tip holder, the outer face of said tip holder being adjacent to the inner face of said tubular discharge member to receive writing fluid discharged from said valve, and the bottom face of said tubular discharge member being provided with an annular recess to receive excess writing 30 fluid from the inner face of said tubular member.

EDWARD S. GARVEY. 

